Mingle Place With The Star

For what you get, I'd choose a hostel. The conditions are similar, probably for less money, and the atmosphere might be better. The flood of one-sentence, three-word five-star reviews also looks fake and doesn't match my experience. Mingle by the Park is centrally located in Wan Chai, and the price is low by Hong Kong standards. It also has a narrow balcony and a small rooftop area with some chairs. But the room felt old and worn, with barely enough space to move. The sink was only about a palm wide, and the AC blew directly onto the bed with no way to adjust it in the cramped layout. I found trash under the bed and saw cockroaches by the fridge and behind the bed. There's no elevator in the main building, so luggage is a hassle. The walls are paper thin, and you hear everything next door. It's on a busy street too, with car and bus noise coming right through the windows.

The location was the main highlight: plenty of eateries, bakeries and shops nearby, plus tram, bus and train connections. Wan Chai station is a short walk, and Causeway Bay is four minutes away on the Island line. From the airport, you can take the Airport Express to Hong Kong station, then go to Central for the Island line. A taxi from Hong Kong station is another option if convenience matters more than cost. I booked fairly late, when many hotels were already full, and got a free room upgrade. The housekeepers did a great job, the bed and pillows were comfortable, and the air conditioning was perfect. Paying at the property was a nice option too. One receptionist was lovely, always greeting me and chatting briefly about my comings and goings. The other reception staff weren't very friendly. My room was on level 1 across from the shared area. Cooking, laundry and guests chatting could all be heard and smelled in the room, so next time I'd choose a higher floor. The balcony had no view and felt a bit hazardous, with dust from nearby buildings. There was no bathroom outlet for a hair dryer or other hair tools. I also would have liked more tea options, like Earl Grey and Assam, plus milk and brown sugar.

It's a convenient spot, only a few minutes on foot from the MTR and with lots of restaurants nearby. Mingle Place by the Park has a boutique feel, with small but manageable rooms. Towels are included, there's free Wi-Fi throughout, and each room has its own connection for casting media to the smart TV. The narrow balcony is a nice feature in an old building. The shower was fine, but the wash basin is extremely narrow and my kettle leaked. One thing to keep in mind when booking: Mingle place by the park is a refurbished old building without a lift, while Mingle place by the star has one. They're linked to the old building only on the 1st or 7th floor, so check which building you've booked.

For $81 a night, the room was smaller than my closet at home, with mold across the walls. Some patches had been painted over and other spots looked fresh. There was so much under the bed too that I doubt it had been cleaned there in the last two months. I ended up hospitalized with a bad infection that I believe came from the mold. After my stay, I had a bloody nose for eight days. When I raised the issue, they said there was nothing they could do. This was terrible, possibly the worst hotel I've stayed in. See the photos for the mold. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, even someone homeless. Protect your health and go somewhere else.